The Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport has destroyed 29.5 tons of anti-social goods and unsafe smuggled items in Trece Martires, Cavite last Aug. 28 and 29, and on Sept. 1.
Among the goods disposed include expired food products, dietary supplements, medicines, vape products and medical kits and devices which were imported but lack the necessary Food and Drug Administration approval and clearances that pose as health risks to the public.
Also included in the disposal were regulated items such as cigarettes, electrical items, bulbs, batteries, used cellphones, CDs and DVDs and other storage devices without clearances from the National Tobacco Administration, Bureau of Product Standards, National Telecommunications Commission and Optical Media Board clearances, respectively.
On Aug. 24, the Customs NAIA also condemned three tons of hazardous mobile phones, expired food supplies, dietary supplements and Chinese medicines.
The series of condemnation of goods is in line with the directive of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonard Guerrero to inspect all abandoned and overstaying cargoes in order to check illegal goods and immediate disposal thereof to decongest warehouses.
Port of NAIA District Collector Carmelita Talusan said despite the ongoing pandemic, the Bureau of Customs is focused on disposing illegal shipments that unnecessarily congest Customs facilities.
She added that the condemnation is timely as trade through the new normal would rely heavily on logistics and contactless transaction.
“Our facilities must be prepared for the possibility in influx of goods in warehouses as people are shifting more to online trade” Talusan said.
The agency assures all its stakeholders that it would continue to endeavor in serving its mandate despite the challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
